USPTA Workshop, Newport RI, July 2019

1. Match Analytics:
What Can We Learn to Coach?
Doug Eng EdD PhD
Newport RI July 2019 Coaches Workshop
https://www.slideshare.net/10sDog/tennis-analytics

2. Pre-Match Observations for Grass Courts
• Dominant serves
• Serve/Return is a major factor
• Serve and volley (if grass is fast enough)
• Many rallies under 5 shots
• Smaller steps (slippery, deceleration can be harder)
• Wrong footing (or hitting behind) can be a very good tactical option
• More drop shots (due to challenges of movement and lower bounces)
• Increased use of slice

3. Post-Match Observations for Grass Courts
• Service/Return – aggressive serves
• Slicing easier, quicker, simpler biomechanics, less athleticism
• Inside the baseline – Victor Troicki won majority when inside baseline
• Baseline groundstrokes errors – tend to make errors into net, players
aiming lower
• Chips/Slicing – more experienced players will use better
• Length of Rally – short, 3-3.5
• Courts play when worn at baseline – bounces higher, irregular
• Body language – can be affected, negativity & confidence
• How can players adjust? Take notes to court and review: list 3-5
goals/objectives

4. Length of Rallies in 1980s:
grass courts: 63-76% of rallies were < 3 shots
clay courts: 20-38% of rallies were > 9 shots

5. Length of Rallies Today:
grass courts: 55-71% of rallies are < 3 shots
clay courts: 4-25% of rallies are > 9 shots

6. Heat Map for S. Williams – S. Halep US Open 2016:
ad court is played more often, get balls to backhands
(Hawkeye report)

7. Stats:
93-97% topspin
Average ball height = 29” above the net
84-88% of balls behind service line
3:2 crosscourt: down-the-line
Serena FH/BH speeds: 72/67 mph
Simona FH/BH speeds were more equal

8. Heat Map for Kerber-Wozniacki: deuce court rallies show lefty vs weaker forehand
Heat Map for Djokovic-Wawrinka: ad court, larger territories to cover

9. Serena won only 4 of 10 first serves going to backhand
Serena won 10 of 12 first serves going wide in the deuce court
Serena won 2 of 7 second serves going to center on deuce court (backhand)
Simona had strong winning chances on first serve regardless of placement

11. 24% of rallies were over 10 or more shots
Forehands were 76-77 mph, backhand 70-72 mph
(2016 US Open finals, Hawkeye report)

12. 2016 US Open Juniors: now big names!

14. Novak won only 5 of 22 second serve
points going to Roger’s backhand

20. Rafa traditionally serves to Roger’s backhand:
All years (above shows 66.4% to backhand or center in deuce court winning 69.7%
In 2017, Rafa served 34.4% wide to the forehand and won only 38.1% (and that’s first serve!!)